Faking It

[Lisa]

We have had discussion here regarding whether or not using airsoft guns for training was a good / bad or indifferent thing. I found this article regarding the subject and thought I would share.

Some of the best real-life practice might just be with guns that aren't real.

The quest for improved firearm training has gone hand-in-hand with the search for improved firearm training tools. When people think of those tools, they usually envision high-tech, self-resetting targets, 360-degree shoot houses, grip strengtheners or grip-mounted lasers. Hardly anybody realizes that one of the most important watersheds in firearm training was the gun culture's discovery of the Nelspot 007.

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[Deaf Smith]

Trigger time is trigger time. And with the cost of ammo, yes a air soft can be quite benifitial.

Nice thing is, you can go weak side and re-learn everything with not much expense if you use an air soft.

Deaf

 

[KenpoTex]

Airsoft guns are great for practicing when you can't get to the range...they're also great for letting you know whether your gun disarming techniques are really worth a flip or not...
(I've also found that the prospect of getting shot in the face with a plastic BB makes the students take the stuff a bit more seriously )

As far as their training value for more dynamic skills...
Just like you have to actually hit people and risk getting hit by an uncooperative opponent to have effective empty-hand skills, "force-on-force" training using Simunitions/UTM, Airsoft, or paintball is where it's at when it comes to training for a real gunfight.

You can do a lot using different target systems but there's nothing like having someone shoot back at you. Provided that it doesn't devolve into a game of long-range tag, it can really teach you a lot about the state of your mindset, the quality of your decision making skills, and the effectiveness of your tactics.

 

[Brian R. VanCise]

Airsoft training has definitely improved my abilities. Not so much in how I shoot at the range. (you do need to fire real bullets) However it has improved repetition of good habits from drawing to target acquisition to moving well with a firearm and well force on force training against a live resisting opponent is good.

Those in the know have definitely been utilizing air soft training for a while now.